Process of manufacture of hydrochloric acid.



A. H. PETER. PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE OF HYDROCHLORIC ACID.

APPLICATION FILED- APR. I2. 1912- 1,229,509 0 5 Patented J une 12, 1917.

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ARNOLD H. PETER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ROYAL BAKINGPOWDERCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Toall whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARNOLD H PETER, a, citizenof Switzerland, residing in the city of New York, in the State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements'iithe Process ofManufacture of Hydrochloric Acid, of which the followingisa-specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of hydrochloric acid and hasfor its object the production of purer hydrochloric acid than heretoforecommercially known by more economical means than those heretoforepractised.

The hydrochloric acid heretofore commercially known contains traces ofvarious impurities, as arsenic, iron and sulfuric acid. With the objectof eliminating such impurities, distillation has been suggested andpractised, but 'on account of the slightly volatile nature of arsenic,iron and sulfuric acid, especially in the presence of hydrochloric acidgas, which serves as a carrier, some impurities are found in thecompleted product even when this additional expense is incurred in theirmanufacture and they are claimed to be chemically pure. This inventioncontemplates a process such that none of these impurities is present atany stage of the manufacture. According to the process of thisinvention, hydrochloric acid is produced from chlorin by means ofwatervapor. I believe that I am the first to discover that by properlyproportioning the chlorin and water-vapor, hydrochloric acid can'beproduced at low temperature and the first to provide means by which theproper proportioning may be determined and accomplished.

In carrying out the process of the present invention, the chlorin incontact with water or water-vapor forms hydrochloric acid and liberatesoxygen and in order to accelerate the latter reaction it is desirable tohave prescut a substance or substances to take hold of the oxygen, as,for example, carbon or sulfur, and I prefer to use carbon in the form ofcharcoal 0r coke. o

In converting chlorin into hydrochloric acid, it is of great importancethat the conversion take place at low temperature for many reasons,among which may be meniioned the avoidance of the corrosive action ofhydrochloric acid gas at high temperatures, which is destructive of theapparatus,

Specification of Letters Patent.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE OF HYDROOHLORIC ACID.

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Application filed April 12, 1912. Serial No. 690,247.

the diliiculties and expense of condensation of hydrochloric acid gasfrom high temperatures, the avoidance of the gaseous and solidsubstances (chlorinated) which are formed at high temperatures, andthe-avoidance of the impurities which occur in hy-' drochloric acidconverted at high temperatures. By the process of the present invention,the chlorin may be converted quantitatively into hydrochloric acid at atemperature as low as 200 (1, and the chlorin may be converted intohydrochloric acid at temperatures just above boiling point of water. Theadvantages of this over any process involving the use ofhydrochloricacid at high temperature, varying from red heat upward, areof vital importance commercially and technically.

The process may best be practised'by an apparatus comprising means forbringing.

together chlorin and water-vapor, means for observing the color of themixture and regulating its proportions accordingly, means for conductingthe mixture into contact with carbon at proper temperature, andcondensing means. The instrumentalities employed may vary 'withinconsiderable limits according to practical conditions encountered. Thus,the chlorin and water-vapor may be brought together in various;ways andeither before entering the converter orin it. The

means for regulating the proportions of the,

mixture may be of any desired character and either such that changes maybe made from time to time or such that the proportions being oncedetermined the particular conditions no made for further regulation.

provision is So, too, the

mixture may be treated with the carbon in a variety of ways. Thevariations in different features are chiefly important as affecting theyield. The more accurately the process is practised, the better theresults obtained;

In the accompanying 'drawing is illustrated one preferred form ofapparatus by which the invention may be practised: A is a pipe leadingfrom a source of chlorin, not shown, provided with a control valve A. Bis a pipe leading from a source of steam, not shown, provided with acontrol valve 13'', the two pipes meeting at a point C, whichpreferably: is in the form of a mixing chamber provided with baflies orother means to secure a thorough mixture.

- D represents a portion of the passage according to a low temperature.

through which the mixture passes, which portion is provided with meanswhereby the color of the mixture may be observed, as for example, asection or piece of glass or other transparent material. E represents achamber or vessel adapted to. receive the carbon hereinafter referred toandprovided with heating means, as, for example, the gas burnerindicated in the drawing F. Gr represents the exit pipe, which ispreferably connected with condensing means, as, for example, a vesselcontaining water, as illustrated at H. I I

It is of great importance to have. the chlorin andwater-vapor properlyproportioned, if good results are to be obtained. The proper proportionswill vary according to conditions. The invention provides simple andeffective means whereby the proper proportioning of the mixture may beeasily determined and accomplished. I have discovered that if themixture of chlorin and water-vapor shows greerrrolor against a whitebackground, then chlorin will pass theconverter even at a hightemperature, whereas if the mixture of chlorin and water- .vapor doesnot show green color against a white background but is substantiallcolorless, then the formation of hydroc loric acid will take placequantitatively even at And there is accordingly provided in theapparatus means for observing the color of the mixture, as, for example,the transparent piece indicated at D.

It will be understood that the amount of water-vapor should be such thatwhen it is brought in contact with the chlorin the green color (againsta white background) will be eliminated. The process may be practisedwithout making the mixture such that it is completely colorless, but forthe best results the water-vapor admitted should be suificient to makethe green color disappear, the yields depending upon the accuracy withwhich the process is practised. Under ordinary atmospheric pressure andat a temperature of 200 C., a mixture of about seven ounces of water (inthe form of vapor) to three ounces of chlorin is best. For good resultsthe proportion of water to chlorin under such con-' ditions should notbe less than two to one.

While I have shown a steam pipe as the preferred means for brin 'ng thewater-.

vapor in contact with the c lorin, it will be understood that othermeans may be emcomprlsing and carbon at a temperature between theboiling point of water and red heat.

3. A process for making hydrochloric acid A comprising forming anapproximately colorless mixture of chlorin and water-vapor andconducting said mixture over carbon at a temperature between the boilingpoint of water and red heat.

4. A process for making hydrochloric acid, forming a mixture of chlorinand such an amount of water-vapor that the mixture shows substantiallyno green color when observed against a white background, and treatingsuch mixture with carbon at a suitable temperature. I

5. A. process for making hydrochloric acid comprisingforming a mixtureof chlorin and water-vapor in approximately the proportion by Weight ofthree to seven, and conducting said mixture over carbon at a suitabletemperature.

6. A process for making hydrochloric acid comprising forming a mixtureof chlorin and water-vapor in approximately the proportion by weight ofthree to seven, and conducting said mixture over carbon at a temperaturebetween the boiling point and red heat.

7. process for making hydrochloric acid comprising forming a mixture ofchlorin and water-vapor wherein the proportion of water-vapor to chlorinis by weight at least two to one, and treating said mixture with 105ARNOLD H. PETER.

Witnesses:

A. M. HOUGHTON, HERMAN Gusrow.

